Carton



H. L. GREVE Oct. 21, 1930.

CARTON [NV NTOR Filed Sept 7 1926 Patented Oct. 21, 1930 UNITED STATE ATENT oF-FIC HERMAN L. GREVE, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIeNon TO'IN'IERNATIONAL MAIL- ING TUBE AND WRAPPER COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW Yonx CARTON Application filed September 7,1926. Serial No. 133,990.

My invention relates to cartons used for the shipment of merchandise by mail or ex press.

The object of my invention is to provide a carton made of stiff strong card-board constructed in a single piece, and in such a manner as to provide exceptional stiffness to resist relative movement of the parts after the carton is permanently locked.

A further object of my invention is to provide a carton having its two-cover portion constructed to engage in interlocking relation in such a manner as to prevent the carton from being opened in the event that one of the locks should be unlocked at the time of shipping, due to any imperfection of the specific lock, or from oversight in locking the carton. v

A further object is to provide means whereby the carton when locked will exert a constant tension between the male and female parts of the lock which will serve to indicate to the person locking the carton that the parts of the lock have interlocked 1n proper engagement.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the inside surface of the blank of a carton before being folded, and in the form in which it is delivered to the purchaser for use.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank partly folded to illustrate the way the carton is formed from the blank.

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the inner side walls of the carton are interlocked.

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the carton as it appears when locked.

A, indicates a carton blank made of strong and rather stiff card-board which is scored on the dotted lines A to permit the board to be easily folded into form.

The blank is slitted on the lines B, to provide the inner side wall portions G and C which extend in overlapping and interlocking relation as illustrated at D, and form a strong inner box which is re-inforced by the outer wall portions E when the carton is locked.

Twolocks, each comprising a female mem ber F and a malemember F are used and are located at each end of the carton, the male members being carried by the top flap portion G and G of the carton, and the female portions are carried by the end wall as illustrated. 5

A notch H ism ade in' the edge of each flap G and G. which isposit'ioned so .as to lie. directly adjacent and under the male locking member and above the end flap member L whe'n the carton is locked. jThese notches are somewhat ofiset and permitt'he male looking memberstobe separated from the female members a slightly greater dis- .tance apart in their fixed'position on the carton blank, due to the flexibility of the flaps and still permit the saidfmembersto interlock when the neck of the male" member is pressed downward in the act of'locking as the-card-board ofthe top flap portions locateddirectly above the notch H will yield and enter the space of the notch,thus carrying. the catch J of the male locking member down far enough to engage the female member and hold it under tension, due to the natural elasticity of the card-board, as will be readily understood.

Each top flap G and G is cut away to form a curved notch and guide portion K, and a slit K extends from the notched portion K in a direction parallel with the length of the carton. In folding the blank into carton form the end flaps I are turned over and their side edge portions 1 rest on the top surfaces of the side walls formed by the portions C and C and are held firmly 'in this position by the top flap portions G and G when they are interlocked.

To firmly interlock the top flaps and prevent the carton from being opened after one of said locks is permanently looked, a part of each top flap is slipped under the other as shown in Figure 4 and the slits K permit the adjacent edge portions of the blank to enter these slits, but in order to do this the top flaps are shifted endwise beyond the ends of the carton in a longitudinal direction a short distance so that the edges of the flaps can enter the slits and interlock. The card board yields enough to permit this operation. After the top flaps have been interlocked as above described, the ends L are lifted a short distance by bending the card-board upward, the ends of the male lock portion having the catch members J thereon are bent over as shown in Figure 4 and pressed firmly downward into permanent engagement with the female member F of the lock.

it is obvious thatafter the top flaps are interlocked andone lock is permanently looked, that the top flap members cannot again be shifted apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, and therefore the box cannot be opened. I prefer, however, to use a lock at each end as shown and thus secure the bracing effect caused by the tension between .the locking members as above set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new:

1. A carton formed of integral parts comprising an inner box portion having side walls which serve to stifien and brace the carton, portions forming outer side walls, and top flap cover portions, one end of each cover portion having a notch formed therein; and a lock comprising a male and female portion one of which is mounted on an end wall and the other on a cover portion, the male portion having a neck which is substantially the width of the notch and rests therein when the parts are in locked engagement.

2. As stated in claim 1, one of said locks being mounted on the carton at each end thereof.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HERMAN L. GREVE. 

